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In the first of a new series about native island wildlife in Cozumel,
we take a look at nature’s friendly miniature dragons: iguanas.

Iguanas are common in Cozumel, from backyards downtown to the surf-washed
rocks on the island’s east coast.

These friendly reptiles are often elusive at first, but, if tempted with some
fresh chopped vegetables, can become quite tame.

Downtown, keep an eye out for them sunbathing on the tops of walls.
Outside built-up areas you’re more likely to spot them soaking
up the sun on the branches of trees.

There are many types of iguanas, they are a type of lizard found natively
across Central and South America. The most common species found in Cozumel
is the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis).

Rick Hudson, Executive Director of the International Iguana Foundation at Fort Worth Zoo in Texas, says the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana can be identified
by its markings, a “series of dark cross bars on a gray background.”